March is national nutrition month – a celebration dedicated to making informed food choices and developing healthy eating habits.
Whilst it’s important to pay attention to how we’re fuelling our bodies, we also need to think about how the foods we’re eating can affect our oral health too.
Not many people know that a healthy smile is directly related to their diet, and even those with the best oral hygiene routines can still struggle to keep their teeth healthy in the long term if they aren’t eating enough nutrient-rich foods.
But which foods should you eat to maintain a healthy mouth and teeth?
In this post, our experts at Bow Lane share five foods you should incorporate into your diet for a healthy smile.
- Cheese, milk and yoghurt
Both low in sugar and high in calcium, cheese is, by far, one of the best foods to eat if you want to maintain strong, healthy teeth.
Cheese also contains a protein known as casein and has high phosphate content, which both helps preserve the enamel and prevent tooth decay.
Chewing cheese also helps to increase saliva production, which helps wash away any build-ups of bacteria in the mouth.
Like cheese, milk also works to lower the pH level in your mouth and fight tooth decay, and yoghurts contain heaps of probiotics, which can protect you from cavities, gum disease and even bad breath.
- Leafy greens
When you were younger, and your parents made sure you ate your greens, it wasn’t for no reason.
Leafy greens – like lettuce, spinach and kale – are packed full of calcium, folic acid, vitamins, and minerals your teeth and gums will thank you for.
And believe it or not, adding a little bit of lettuce into your sandwich at lunchtime actually helps keep your teeth clean! How, you might ask?
Well, it’s natural for residue from the food we just ate to remain on our teeth and produce bacteria. But the fibrous texture of leafy greens can produce high levels of saliva, which as we know, helps reduce the number of bacteria residing on your teeth and keep your mouth clean throughout the day.
- Oranges and grapefruit
Acidic foods are known for the negative impacts they can have on our teeth – but a selection of them, including oranges and grapefruits, can actually have huge benefits for our teeth and gums.
Both oranges and grapefruits, in particular, contain high levels of vitamin C, which help strengthen blood vessels and connective tissues in the mouth, slow down the progression of gum inflammation that could result in gum disease, and reduce bleeding gums.
- Nuts
Nuts – particularly almonds, Brazil nuts and cashews – are another food that contains lots of calcium and phosphorus which help fight bacteria that leads to tooth decay.
They also contain countless vitamins ranging from potassium and zinc, vitamin B and vitamin E – so it’s no wonder they’re considered one of the healthiest foods for your teeth.
- Meats and fatty fish
Meat, more specifically, red meat and fatty fish (like salmon) are extremely beneficial for your teeth. Even meat replacement alternatives, like tofu, can be too!
They’re loaded with phosphorus, an important mineral for protecting and strengthening the tooth enamel.
Need expert dental advice?
There’s really no denying how much your diet can have an impact on your teeth and mouth.
If you’re doing everything right – including brushing and flossing twice every, using mouthwash and eating a nutrient-rich diet – and your oral health is still suffering, it might be time to book a dental appointment.
Why not visit our dentist in the city of London?
Here at Bow Lane, we have years of experience in helping our patients get their oral health back on track, and there’s no better dentist in London for the job.
To book an appointment with us, or to find out more about the ways we can help, call 020 7236 3600 or head over to our online booking system to view our availability!
